Golf scoring device



Jan. 12, 1943. A. L. EACRETT 2,308,064

GOLF SCORING DEVICE Filed Jan. 8, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l ALFRED L. EACHETT S K STWWM ATTOR/VEK Jan; I2, 1943. A. L. EACRETT 2,308,064

GOLF SCORING DEVICE Filed Jan. 8, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ALFRED L. 514685 77' ATTORNEK Jan. 12, 1943. A. L. EAcRETT GOLF SCORING DEVICE Filed Jan. 8, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet s men ALFPED L. sac/r511 ATTORNEX Jan. 12, 1943. A. 1.. EACRETT 2,303,064

GOLF SCORING DEVICE Filed Jan. 8, 1941 5-Sheets-Sheet 4 42 ms I17 I;

III 66 I NVENT OR.

ATTOP/VEK Jan. 12, 1943. A 1. EACRETT 2,308,064

GOLF SCORiNG bEvIcE Filed Jan. 8, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INV ENT OR. ALFRED L. EAC/FE rr ATTORNE l.

Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GOLF SCORING DEVICE Alfred L. Eacrett, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 8, 1941, Serial No. 373,633

Claims. (01. 235-114) This invention relates to registering devices, and more particularly to automatic score-keeping devices for use in connection with various games wherein the score is kept by keeping track of the number of times a certain event occurs as the game progresses, as by counting the number of strokes taken by each of the players in a game of golf.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a score-keeping instrument having a plurality of individual registers adapted to be actuated selectively, whereby individual scores can be registered, such as a visual indication, of the number of strokes required by a player to negotiate each hole of the course, and a totalizing counter adapted to sum up and give a visual indication of the total number of strokes, so that at any time during the progress of a game, the player can instantly ascertain the number of strokes so far taken. Consequently, this invention constitutes an improvement over that forming the subject matter of United States Letters Patent No. 1,501,398, issued to me on July 15, 1924.

A more detailed object of the present invention is to provide a multiple score register of the general class indicated wherein improved and simplifled individual registers are employed, the particular object being sought in this connection be ing the elimination of delicate, expensive, and

easily damaged parts such as hair springs, with the result that not only is the cost of the parts of the instrument reduced, but the labor and expense of assembly are greatly lessened.

Another object is the provision of an improved and simplified master pawl assembly, and means for advancing the pawl from register to register as the game progresses so that it is caused to be presented to the individual register appropriate to the particular hole of the golf game then being played.

A further object in this connection is the provision of means for resetting the master pawl to its initial position, and means which acts before this resetting movement commences for retracting the pawl to clearing position, i. e., so spaced from the registers that it is enabled to move therepast without harm to itself or to them, and without actuating any of the registers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a totalizer, or counter adapted to sum up and make a visual indication of the total number of strokes as the game progresses, of such improved and simplified form that it includes a minimum number of parts, and wherein the parts that are used are of the simplest, least expensive, and most easily assembled form.

The invention possesses other objects and features, some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a portion of the specification. It is to be understood that I am not limited to the showing made by the said drawings and descriptions as I may adopt variations of the preferred embodiment within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a score registering device embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a View in side elevation, direction of view being indicated by the arrow 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through the device just in back of the dial plate. The plane of section may be considered to have been taken upon the line 33 of Figure '7 with the direction of View as indicated. In this figure some of the individual dials have been removed and portions of the totalizing dials have been broken away the better to reveal the construction.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the internal mechanism of the device removed from its case. This figure may be considered as a sectional view taken upon the line 44 of Figure '7 with the direction of view as indicated.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the mechanism removed from its casing. This figure may be considered to be a sectional view taken upon the line 55 of Figure 7 with the direction of view as indicated.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken through the mechanism removed from its casing. This figure may be considered to be a sectional view taken upon the line 6-6 of Figure '7, with the direction of view as indicated.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal, horizontal, medial sectional view, the plane of view being indicated by the line 7-1 of Figure 1 and the direction of view by the arrows.

Figure 8 is a vertical, longitudinal, medial sectional view taken upon line 83 of Figure 1 with the direction of View as indicated.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail View in side elevation of one of the individual score registers.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail View in perspective showing the master ratchet.

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the master ratchet, the direction of view being indicated by the arrow l l of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a view in side elevation of the master ratchet, the direction of view being indicated by the arrow l2 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation of the means for releasably interconnecting the master ratchet wheel and the disk which moves the master ratchet to withdrawn position prior to its return to starting position. This view may be considered as a sectional view taken upon the line l3-l 3 of Figure 5.

Figure 14 is a plan view of the totalizing register and the mechanism for resetting it to zero. 7

Figure 15 is a side elevation of the mechanism of Figure 14, the direction of view being indicated by the arrow E5 of that figure.

Stationary structure By referring first to Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, it is readily apparent that the present embodiment of my invention comprises an outer case indicated in its entirety at 2| and comprising a front 22 and back 23, the front 22 being provided with a crystal 24 through which the master dial 26 is visible.

The stationary portions of the mechanism comprise a central arbor 21 supported On the back plate 28 which is affixed to the back 23 of the case 2| through the expedient of lugs 29 (see Figures 3, 5, and 6) extending from the outer edge of the back plate and through which screws 3! extend to be threaded into the back of the case. Rigid with the back plate 23 is a central hub 33 through which the arbor 27 extends; and

this hub 33 is considerably longer than the width of the back plate 28 so that its forward end serves to support an intermediate stationary plate 34 which is rigidly connected to the hub 33 by any suitable means such as dowel pins 35 (see Figure 6).

Formed preferably integrally with the arbor 27 is a flange 3! spaced far enough from the intermediate plate 34 to support the hub 38 of a radially extending arm 39 (see Figure 5) the function of which will be described herein below; and gripped between the forward face of the flange 31 and a nut 41 threaded upon the arbor 27 is a forward stationary plate 42. The threaded end 43 of the arbor upon which the nut 4| is engaged is considerably longer than the thickness of the forward stationary plate 42 and the nut so that the dial 26, which is held against the forward end of the arbor 21 as by a headed screw 44, is spaced forwards from the plate 42, as clearly shown upon Figures 7 and 8.

Rotary members A headed screw 5! threaded into the after end of the arbor 21 provides a journal for two radial arms 52 and 53 (see Figure l) the hubs 54 and 56 respectively of which are free to turn between the head of the screw 5! and the after stationary plate 28.

' the intermediate stationary plate 36. The raadapted to engage a pin 64 rigid with the mas- V ter ratchet wheel 51, the parts being so arranged that the spring 6| urges the master ratchet wheel 51 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed upon Figures 5 and 6. 7

Another of the rotary members is the radial arm 39, the hub 38 of which encircles the arbor 21 as already described; and in the same plane as the arm 39 and its hub 38 is a ring gear 66 which is held against the forward face of the intermediate stationary plate 34 as by a plurality of screws 6'! (see Figure 5) threaded into the stationary plate 34 and having heads large enough to extend over th ring gear 66 sumciently loosely to permit the gear 65 to turn thereunder. The ring gear 56 is kept in coaxial relationship with the other members by means of a shoulder 68 on dial arm 39 serves to interconnect the ring gear 66 and the lever 53 whose function it is to impart reciprocatory movement to the ring gear 66 for the purpose of clearing all the dials, as will be explained more fully herein below, the interconnection between the ring gear ES and the lever 53 being as follows: The outer end of th arm 39 seats within a notch ll in the inner circumference of the ring gear 58 so that when the arm 39 is turned about the axis of the arbor 2'! it turns the ring gear 66 with it. The hub 33 of the arm 39 also is provided with a notch 12 with in which the forward end of a pin 13 is engaged. This pin 73 is rigid with the hub 55 of the arm 53 and extends forward therefrom through a sector shaped opening 74 in the hub 33 which extends throughout a sufficient number of degrees about the axis of the arbor 21 to permit the pin 73 to travel far enough to carry the arm 39 and the ring gear 6 5 through their entire range of movement. The lever 53 is provided with a shoulder 81 which is adapted to engage the arm 82 of a detent 83 as the arm 53 reaches its limit of movement in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed upon Figure 4, these interengaging parts being so shaped that such engagement swings the arm 82 in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivot pin 84 by means of which it is connected to the after face of the back plate 28. The detent 83 is resiliently urged as by a coil spring 86 into the path of teeth 81 formed on the outer edge of the master ratchet wheel 51, a notch 88 being formed in the outer edge of the back plate 28 to permit the detent 83 to extend into such position; therefore, when the arm 82 is swung outwards in the manner herein above described, the detent 83 is removed from the path of the teeth 81, which permits the spring 6| to turn the master ratchet wheel 57 back to its starting position from whatever position it occupied at the time the lever 53 was operated. In order to permit such manipulation of the lever 53 its outer end 89 extends through a slot 9| in the peripheral wall of the back 23 of the case 2! and preferably is provided with an arcu'ate plate 92 which underlies the slot 9! when the lever 53 is in retracted position (i. e., position wherein it is illustrated in Figure 4) and thus serve as a glosiure for the slot 9| to preclude admission of A secondary wheel in the form of a ring 93 is held concentric with respect to the master ratchet wheel 5'! as by an annular shoulder 84 on the latter; and the outer edge of the ring 93 is provided with a series of spaced teeth 95 (see Figure 6), two of which are joined by a web I3Q, the function of which will be described in greater detail hereinbelow. This web I39 projects radially outwards to a greater radial distance than the outer ends of the rest of the teeth 86; and it is disposed betweentwo pins 91 which are rigid with the master ratchet wheel and which are spaced apart at a greater distance than the length of the web I39, with the result that the ring 93 is permitted a limited amount of rotary movement with respect to the master ratchet wheel 51, as determined by the spacing of the pins 91 but in the main these two members turn together.

Individual score registers The dial plate 26 is provided with a plurality, preferably I8 openings arranged in a circular .series adjacent the outer edge of the dial 2B; and associated with each of these openings IOI is an individual score register I02. Accordingly, the eighteen individual registers I02 are also arranged in a circular series, being supported upon the intermediate stationary plate 34 in spaced relationship about its peripheral edge.

Inasmuch as all of these eighteen individual score registers are all identical in construction (with the exception of one of them, as will be explained herein below) it will sufiice for the purpose of the present disclosure to describe but one of them, reference being had to Figure 9 for such description. Each individual register assembly I02 is journaled upon a pin I03 rigid with the intermediate stationary plate 34 and extending forwards therefrom, i. e., towards the dial plate 26. Journaled upon each of these pins I63 is a resetting gear I04, the forward face of which carries a hub I56 preferably integral with the gear I54. Also journaled upon the pin I03 is a ratchet wheel I01 and rigidly connected with each of the ratchet wheels N31 is an individual scoring dial I88. In order to conserve space, the several dials 38 are arranged in overlapping relation so that the distance between the pins 193 need be only slightly more than the radius of the dial (see Figure 3). Each dial I98 carries a series I99 of numerals, preferably 1 to 9 inclusive, and the dial IE8 is so associated with its respective opening IGI in the dial plate 26 that one or" these numerals at a time can be seen through that opening. The number of teeth on the ratchet wheel I01 corresponds to the number of digits I59 on the dial IE8 and they are similarly angularly spaced, with the result that when the ratchet wheel I91 is turned through a distance equal to the spacing between corresponding portions of adjacent teeth, the associated dial Hi8 will be advanced far enough to make the next successive numeral I09 thereof visible through the associated opening I I.

Means are provided for releasably anchoring the ratchet wheel I01 and dial N8 of each individual scoring unit I02 to the associated resetting gear I64, the preferred means of accomplishing this being a cup-shaped tension washer III of spring steel slightly deformed from its normal position toward flatness by being squeezed between the ratchet wheel II31 and the hub I06 of the resetting gear I04. Both the ratchet wheel I61 with its dial I08 and the resetting gear I04 are free to turn upon their associated support pin I83; therefore, when the resetting gear is held stationary the spring washer I I I urges the ratchet wheel Hi1 and dial I88 also to remain stationary, but permits them to turn if rotary force is applied thereto in excess of the holding force of the spring III. Conversely, the resetting gear I84 can turn if torque is applied thereto while the ratchet wheel I01 is held stationary; but if such torque be applied to the resetting gear I04 without operation of any means for holding the ratchet wheel I01 stationary, the ratchet wheel I01 and its dial I68 will turn with the resetting gear. The parts are so proportioned and arranged that all of the ratchet wheels I61 of the several individual score registers I02 lie in a plane just forward of the forward stationary plate 42, the peripheral edge of which is provided with a finger II6 adjacent each of the individual scoring units I02 (see Figure 3). Each ratchet wheel I01 is provided with a finger Il1 which extends laterally from adjacent its peripheral edge; and the finger H1 is so positioned with reference to the numerals I09 on the associated dial IE8 that when the ratchet wheel I61 and dial I38 have been turned in reverse direction until the finger H1 engages the associated stationary finger IIS the numeral 0 of that dial will be visible through the associated opening IGI. All of the resetting gears IM of the several individual scoring registers Hi2 are enmeshed with the teeth I I8 of the ring gear 56 which, as explained herein above, is connected with the arm 53 to be moved in rotary motion thereby, the distance through which the ring gear can thus be caused to turn is slightly more than that necessary to turn all of the ratchet wheels I511 through their entire range of movement. Therefore, when the arm 53 is reciprocated through its full arc, forward movement of the arm will result in turning all of the several individual dials I93, from whatever position they then occupy, forward until the fingers H! on their associated ratchet wheels I01 engage the respective stationary fingers H6. The position to which the dials are thus moved is unimportant because they will be permitted to remain there only until the arm 53 and the ring gear 66 start their reverse movement, but after any of the fingers I I 1 has engaged the associated stationary finger IE5 any continued forward movement of the arm 53 will not cause any damage to the mechanism for the reason that the spring washers I I I will permit the resetting gears I94 to continue to turn after the motion of their respective ratchet wheels I01 is stopped. Then when the arm 53 is retracted, the ring gear 65 will be caused to rotat in the opposite direction; and, as stated, the extent of motion of the ring gear 66 thus produced is slightly more than that necessary to turn all of the ratchet wheels III through their complete range of rotary motion, with the result that when the fin ers II1 of the ratchet wheels are carried all the way around to engage the other side of their respective stationary fingers IIB the numeral 0 of each dial I68 will move into registry with the associated opening IIII, placing the several dials I08 in their respective starting positions, regardless of what position each of those several dials occupied before the resetting operation commenced.

Opercuior for individual registers As herein above explained, the master ratchet 58 is carried by th revolubly mounted master ratchet wheel 51, with the result that is can be advanced in step by step movement to present the ratchet 26 thereof successively to each of the individual score registers I82 in operative relation to the ratchet wheel I01 thereof. The construction and operation of the master ratchet can best be understood by observation of Figures 10 to 12 inclusive. This mechanism is supported upon a bracket I21 rigid with the master ratchet wheel and comprising an arm I23 extendplained herein above.

ing radially outwards from the periphery f the wheel 51, a portion I29 which extends forwards from the outer end of the arm I28 and a pointer or indicator I3I which extends radially inwards from the forward end of the portion I29. The parts are so proportioned that the forwardly extending portion I29 passes the dial plate 28 with the result that the indicator I3! overlies the dial plate, making its pointed end 182 visible through the crystal 28. Hence, the end I32 serves as a visual signal to indicate to which of the individual score registers I82 the ratchet I28 is presented at any given time.

The ratchet I28 is carried by the outer end of an arm I33 which is rigid with the forward end of a tube I35 which in turn is rotatably mounted upon a pivot pin I38 rigid with the arm I28 of the bracket I21. An arm I31 is rigid with the other end of the tube I34 and extends therefrom along the arm I28 of the bracket I29 far enough to dispose the inner end of the arm I31 within a notch I38 in the outer edge of an arcuate web !39 which interconnects the outer ends of two adjacent teeth 96 of the ring 93. As herein above explained, the limited motion of the secondary wheel 83 is permitted with respect to the master ratchet wheel 57, as determined by engagement of the pin 91 with certain of the teeth 98; and this relative motion is sufficient to swing the arm I31 from one extreme of its movement to the other. When swung to the left as viewed upon Figure 10 the ratchet I 26 is disposed in operative relation to the ratchet wheel I8! of the proximal individual scoring register I82, but when swung to the right as viewed upon Figure 10, the arm I33 carrying the ratchet I28 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction, carrying the ratchet I26 radially outwards away from the ratchet wheel IIi'I, i. e., to clearing position, with the result that when so swung the master ratchet Wheel can be returned to its starting position with the ratchet I 28 withdrawn far enough to avoid its striking any of the ratchet wheels I81 as it swings therepast. Means for effecting this limited motion of the secondary wheel 93 with respect to the master ratchet wheel operates just before the master ratchet wheel 8'! is permitted to snap back to its starting position, and

comprises a leaf spring IEI (best shown in Figures 5.and 13) riveted or otherwise fastened to the ring gear 86 and having a finger I52 which is deflected so as to extend rearwards of the instrument through an appropriately positioned opening I53 in the intermediate stationary plate 38, thereby enabling the finger I52 to engage between teeth 96 of the secondary wheel or toothed ring 93. That portion of the finger I52 which engages the teeth 95 of the wheel 83 is rounded, thereby presenting inclined surfaces I58 and I5! of the finger whose function it is to press the finger upwards, as viewed upon Figure 13, after the finger is operated to turn the ring 93 until further motion of the wheel is prevented by engagement by one of the teeth 98 with the pin 91after such engagement further motion of the ring gear 85 which carries the finger I52 being made possible inasmuch as the finger I52 will spring upwards (Figure 13) permitting the finger to ride over the tooth 95 with which it is in engagement with the result that the ring gear can then continue its motion far enough to eiiect resetting of the dials as has been ex- However, before the arm 53 swings far enough for the shoulder 8| thereon to engage the arm 82 of the detent 83, the

spring finger I52 will have engaged one of the teeth 86 and turn the secondary wheel 93 far enough to effect withdrawal of the ratchet I28 and by engagement with the distal end of the opening I53 in the intermediate stationary plate 34, the extreme end I58 of the finger I52 preferably being long enough to effect such engagement with the plate 84 so as to lift the finger out of engagement with the tooth ring 93 before the detent 83 releases the master ratchet wheel, with the result that when the master ratchet wheel does snap back to its starting position the toothed ring 93 is free to be turned back with it.

Inasmuch as reciprocatory motion of the ratchet I28 is necessary while it is presented to any one of the ratchet wheels I87 in order to effect rotary motion of that ratchet wheel and its associated dial I88, means are provided for rocking the master ratchet wheel 5'! which carries the ratchet I28. Toward this end a lever (see Figure 4) I8I is pivoted as by a pin I82 upon the after face of the back plate '28 and is continually urged to swing upwards as by a spring I83, such upward motion (see Figure 4) being limited by engagement of a detent IE4 at the outer end of the lever I8! with a shoulder I66 on the plate 28. A notch I67 in the edge of the plate 28, however, permits the lever I8l to swing inwards against the action. of the spring I83 far enough to engage the sloping trailing edge I88 of one of the teeth 81 of the master ratchet wheel which is exposed to the detent I84 through the notch IS? with the result that by swinging the lever ISI to its inner extreme of movement the detent I84 will push that tooth 87 of the master ratchet wheel forward and thereby impart rotary motion to the master ratchet wheel far enough to cause the ratchet I28 to advance the ratchet wheel I81 which it is then engaging to the next successive indicating position of its associated dial I88. Upon release of the arm I8 I, however, the master ratchet wheel moves back through the action of the spring 88 which, as herein above explained, is operatively associated with the arm 82 of the detent 83. It should be observed that the pin 84 whereby the arm 82 is connected to the back plate 28 extends through a slot ill in the arm 82 instead of through a fitted hole, with the result that the arm 82 and detent 83 can slide back and forth far enough to permit the reciprocatory rotary motion of the master ratchet wheel, which is necessary to effect operation of the ratchet I28, without necessitating release of the detent 83 from between the teeth 8'! with which it is then in engagement.

Means are provided outside the case 2i for pressing the lever IBI inwards so as to bring its detent I84 into operative engagement with whichever one of the teeth 87 of the master ratchet wheel 51 is then exposed to the detent I64 by lying in registry with the notch I62. Inasmuch as the compact manner in which the con- .stituent elements of the mechanism are disposed permits construction of the instrument in such small size that the case 2! closely resembles a conventional watch case, it is expedient to make the external operating means resemble a conven tional watch stem. Toward this end, the external operating means is constructed in the form of a stem I18 (see Figures 1, 2, and 3) mounted for reciprocatory movement within and disposed radially with respect to the peripheral wall of the case 2I, a guide tube Ill is ailixed to the outer surface of the peripheral wall to conceal that portion of the stem I16 which would otherwise be exposed below a head II8 affixed to its outer end and extending over the tube III in sliding telescopic relationship therewith. The head I18 is preferably provided with a ring or bail I19 to facilitate attaching the instrument to a chain or the like. The inner end I8I of the stern I16 is provided with a flange I82 disposed in such position that when the stem is pressed inwards the flange I82 engages the detent I64 of the pivoted arm IGI, whereupon continued inward motion of the stem I16 effects operation of the arm I6I to turn the master ratchet wheel 51 far enough to actuate the ratchet I26 in the manner herein above described.

Mechanism for operating the master ratchet wheel Means are provided for turning the master ratchet wheel 51 in step by step movement so as to present the ratchet I 25 successively to the several ratchet wheels I01. This is the function of the other lever 52, the hub 54 of which is also pivotally mounted upon the end of the arbor 21 by the screw I3. The arm 52 is provided with an outer end I86 similar to the corresponding portion 89 of the lever 53 and similarly exposed outside the case 2I through another slot I87 in the peripheral wall thereof (see Figures 1, 2, and 3). I also prefer to provide the lever 52 with an arcuate shield I88 adapted to close the slot I81 when the lever is in its retracted position, this being the position that the lever occupies during the major portion of the time.

The lever 52 carries a lever ISI pivotally mounted thereon as by a screw I92 and urged to rotate in counter-clockwise direction, as viewed upon Figure 4, by a spring I93 attached to the arm 52 as by a screw or rivet I94. The outer end of the lever I9I carries a pawl I96 adapted to engage successive teeth 81 of the master ratchet wheel 51 through a notch I91 provided for that purpose in the peripheral edge of the back plate 28. The distal end I98 of the notch I9! is substantially perpendicular to the line of movement of the pawl I96 so that the end I98 serves as a shoulder limiting movement of the lever 52. The otherend I09 of the notch I91, however, is disposed in sloping relation to the line of movement of the pawl I96 so that as the arm approaches its limit of retrograde movement, the pawl I96 is lifted out of the line of movement of the teeth 81 so as not to offer any resistance to the reciprocatory motion of the master ratchet wheel, resulting from operation of the stem I16 and lever I61.

The arm 52 is continuously urged to rotate in retrograde movement as by a tensile spring 20I under tension between th arm 52 and any suitable anchoring means such as a pin or lug 202 on the back plate. Such retrograde movement of the arm 52 is limited by a shoulder 203 on the edge of the back plate 20.

Operation of individual score registers It will be assumed that all of the dials I08 have been set to their zero reading position through their respective openings IOI and that the ratchet I26, is presented to the ratchet wheel II of the individual register I02 associated with the first hole IOI. Then, each time the player, whose score is being kept, makes a stroke in his endeavor to sink the ball in the first cup, the head I19 of the stem IOI should be depressed once, causing actuation of the lever I6I and through the co-operation of the return spring 86 also caus ing sufi'icient recipractory motion of the master ratchet wheel 51 to carry the ratchet I26 into engagement with a tooth of the proximal ratchet wheel I01 and turn that ratchet wheel and its associated dial I03 through a distance corresponding to the spacing between teeth of that ratchet wheel, thus causing the next successive numeral I09 of that dial to become visible through the opening IOI. Hence, the number which can be read through that hole I0 I will indicate the number of strokes taken prior to that stage of the game in playing the first hole.

After the player has been successful in sinking his ball in the first cup, the arm 52 should be actuated once, swinging it to the right, as viewed upon Figures 1, 3, 5, and 6, and thereby causing the master ratchet wheel to turn through a distance corresponding to the spacing of its teeth 81 and advancing the master ratchet I26 to the next successive individual scoring unit I02, with the result that each tim the stem I8I is depressed, the dial I08 visible through the next successive opening IOI will be advanced, this operation being performed each time the player makes a stroke in playing the second hole of the golf course, this operation being repeated during the course of the game and thereby making it possible to make a visible indication of the number of strokes played in sinking his ball in each of the eighteen holes of the course.

When the game is completed and it is desired to clear all of the dials I08, the other arm 53 should be swung to the left, as Viewed upon Figures 1, 3, 5, and 6. As herein above described, such movement of the arm 53 will first cause the spring arm I52 to engage the toothed ring 93, turning it far enough to actuate the arms I31 and I33 and thus swing the ratchet I26 out to its clearing-position. Upon continued movement of the arm 53, the spring arm I52 will be disengaged from the toothed ring 93 and then the shoulder 8| of the arm 53 will engage the arm 82 and move the detent 83 to releasing position, permitting the spring 61 to snap the master ratchet wheel 57 back to its starting position wherein the master ratchet I26 is again brought into registry with the first of the individual scoring units I02.

The arm 53 should then be returned to its original position, permitting the detent 83 to return to its operating position. As the arm 53 returns to its original position, the spring finger I52 will again engage one of the teeth 96 of the toothed ring 93, turning the ring back again with respect to the master ratchet wheel 51 far enough to effect return motion of the arms I37 and I33 so that the master ratchet I26 is again presented in 0perative relation to the ratchet wheel IIiI of the individual scoring unit I02 with which it is at that time in registry.

As the arm 53 is swung in the manner described, the ring gear 68 is caused to turn therewith through the operation of the arm 39 and the pin 'I'3 which connects it with the hub 56 of the arm Inasmuch as all of the resetting gears I04 of the several individual scoring units I532 are enmeshed with the teeth of the ring gear 66, retrograde motion of the arm 53 causes all of the dials I08 to rotate backwards until the stop pins I I7 of the ratchet wheels I61 come into engagement with the fingers [I6 on the forward stationary plate 42, at which time the numerals 0 of all the dials I68 will be in registry with their associated openings II, and after which any continued turning of the ring gear 66 will cause slipping of the spring washers III so as to permit the resetting gears I04 to turn although the ratchet wheels I and their associated dials I38 remain stationary.

Totalizing register The totalizing mechanism, in order to conserve space, is largely disposed within an opening 226 in the forward stationary plate 42 and is mounted upon three pivot pins 2 27, 226, and 226 respectively, rigid with that portion of the intermediate stationary plate 14 which is disposed inside the ring gear 66. The pins 227, 228, and 229 serve as supports respectively for the hundreds indicating dial 23!, tens indicating dial 232, and units indicating dial 233; but inasmuch as the present instrument is not designed to register more than two hundred strokes it is not necessary to provide for more than tWo positions of the hundreds indicating dial 23!. Accordingly, the hundreds indicating dial is provided only with the numeral 1 and either a blank space or the numeral 0, which are optionally visible through an opening 234 in the dial plate 26. The hundreds indicating dial 23! is rigid with a tube 236 which is journaled upon the pin 227 and which also has rigidly secured thereto a plate 23'! with which a tensile spring 238 is connected, the other end of the spring 236 being anchored as by a pin 233 to the stationary plate 42 in such position that the spring 236 continually urges the plate 237 and its associated dial 23! to its zero indicating position. The plate 237' also carries a radially extending finger 24!.

The tens indicating dial 232 is similarly carried 3 by a tube 246 journaled upon the pin 228; and this tube 246 also carries a plate or disk 24'! and a gear 248, the plate 24?, the gear 248, and the dial 232 all being rigid with the tube 246. Mounted for rotary movement upon the tube 246 is a gear 249; and a spring washer 25! is interposed between the gear 249 and the pin 220 so as to urge the dial 232 to turn when the gear 249 turns and to releasably retain the dial 232 stationary when the gear 249 is held stationary. However, due to the slipping V engagement of the spring washer 26!, the disk 24! and its dial 232 can be turned when properly actuated even though the gear 249 remains stationary. The dial 232 is provided with numerals 25! visible successively through the opening 234 between the spaced edges of the dials 23! and 233, as best shown in Figure 1. V

The units indicating dial 233 is carried by a tube 26! journaled upon the pin 229. The tube 26! also has rigidly mounted thereupon a ratchet wheel 262 and has journaled thereupon a gear 263, similarly releasably interconnected with the ratchet wheel 262 as by a spring washer 264. Also rigid with the tube 26! is a radially extending finger 266 arranged in such position that as the units indicating dial is advanced the tenth time the finger 262 engages one of the teeth of the gear 248 and turns that gear, thereby rotatingthe tens indicating dial 232 to bring its next successive numeral 25! into registry with the opening 234. When this has occurred ten times, a shoulder 21! on the disk 24'! of the tens indicating register will engage the finger 24! of the hundreds indicating register and move it and the dial 23! associated therewith to its other position so that its numeral 1 is then visible through the opening '234 After the hundreds indicating unit has thus been advanced the finger 24! will ride upon the outer peripheral edge 272 of larger radius whenever the tens indicating unit is turned. This portion 273 of larger radius extends throughout sufficient angular distance around the edge of the disk 24'! to' retain the finger 24! in its advanced position during at least eight successive actuations of the tens indicating unit,'with the result that the maximum number of strokes which can be recorded by the totalizing mechanism is at least as high as I89. The numerals 25! appearing on the face of the tens indicatingdial 232 are spaced apart an angular distance corresponding to the angular separation of the teeth of the gear 248. Therefore, each time the tens indicating unit is advanced by engagement of the finger 266 with the gear 248, the tens indicating unit will beadvanced to make its next successive numeral visible through the opening 234; and inasmuch as there are ten teeth on the ratchet wheel 262 and ten numerals on the units indicating dial 233, such engagement between the fingerififi and the gear 248 will occur whenever the units indicating register has been actuated ten times.

The means for operating the totalizing mechamsm comprises a plunger 36! tnounted for reciprocatory movement in a pair of aligned brackets 302 and 303 rigid with the intermediate stationary plate 34 and carryin upon its inner end a head 304; and spring 306 under compression between the bracket 363 and a shoulder 30! on the plunger 317i continually urges the plunger 30! to its outer extreme of movement as determined by engagement of a fiange on the head 304 with the bracket 333.7 The outer end of the plunger 30! lies in the path of the flange I02 of the stem I8! so that each time it is depressed to efiect operation of the master ratchet I26 in the manner herein above described, the plunger 30! will simultaneously be forced inwards against the action of. the spring 306.

Pivotally mounted upon the head 304 as by a screw 3!! is a pawl 3I2; and a spring 3I3 is so associated with the pawl 3I2 that it continually urges it to the position illustrated in Figure 3 but permits it to swing in a clockwise direction, as viewed upon that figure, far enough to permit the extreme inner end 3!4 of the pawl 3I2 to move to the left slightly. This end 3!4 of the pawl is presented to the ratchet wheel 262 of the un ts mdicating register of the totalizing mechanism so that whenever the plunger 30! is depressed the pawl 3i2 advances the units indicator to bring the next successive numeral of its dial into registry with the opening 233.

It s believed that the manner in which the totalizing mechanism operates will be understood from the herein above description of its component parts and the inter-relationship therebetween. Recapitulating briefly, each actuation of the plunger 36! advances the unit indicator one unit; and when this has occurred ten times the finger 266 causes the tens indicator to advance to its next numeral; and when this has occurred ten times the shoulder 27! advances the hundreds indicator to its alternative position.

Clearing of the totalizing dials is accomplished s multaneously with clearing of the several individual score indicating dials through the expedient of an idler gear 326 journaled upon a screw 32'! or its equivalent, which is rigid with the intermediate stationary plate 34 and extends through an arcuate slot 328 provided in the ring gear 66 for that purpose. The idler gear 326 en meshes with the resetting gear I04 of one of the individual score registers I02, t particular resetting gear !04 being made thicker than the other gears I04 so that it can enmesh both the ring gear 66 and the idler ear 326. The idler gear 326 also enmeshes with an interconnecting gear 325 which is rigid and concentric with the gear 263 of the units indicator and this gear 263 in turn enmeshes with th gear 249 of the tens indicator. Accordingly, when the ring gear 66 is turned to clear all of the individual score registers I32 it will, through the co-operation of the idler gear 326 cause both the units indicator and tens indicator of the totalizing mechanism tov rotate. Upon the return stroke of the resetting lever 53, the units indicator and tens indicator therefore will be rotated backwards and means are provided for bringing each to rest when the numeral of its associate dial is in reading position. A pin 33I on the ratchet wheel 262 comes into engagement with the end of a spring 332 mounted upon the foremost stationary plate 42 as by a screw 333, the length of the spring 332 being such that when such engagement occurs the numeral 0 of the units indicator is in reading position. However, the inherent resilience of the spring arm 332 permits the pin 33! to move past the spring arm 332 when the units indicator is rotatin in a forward direction.

When the tens indicator is reversely rotated, a shoulder 336 on that end of the portion 273 of larger radius of the disk 241 of the tens indicator which is then leading will come into engagement with the extreme end of the finger 24! of the hundreds indicator when the numeral 0 of the tens indicating dial 232 is in reading position, the finger 2M having been dropped by the spring 238 back into position to engage the shoulder 336 when the portion 213 of increased radius moves out from under the end of the finger 2M I claim:

1. A registering device of the character described, comprising a circular frame, a plurality of registers arranged about the periphery of said frame, a master ratchet wheel disposed coaxially of said frame for rotary movement with respect thereto, means mounted on said wheel providing a carriage extending from the edge thereof, a rocker arm pivoted on said carriage, a spring-pressed pawl carried by one end of said rocker aim, means for turning said wheel in step-by-step movement to present said pawl in operative position successively to said registers, a spring-pressed detent releasably retaining said wheel in selected position, a secondary wheel disposed co-axially of said master wheel and having a notch within which the other end of said rocker arm seats, said secondary wheel being rotatable with respect to said master wheel through a predetermined distance, sufiicient to enable said notch to pass the radial line intersecting the pivotal mounting of said rocker arm whereby said rocker arm swings as relative movement or said wheels occurs, means for releasing said detent, means carried by said detent-releasing means and operable simultaneously therewith for turning said secondary wheel upon said master wheel, and a spring associated with said master wheel to restore it to starting position upon release of said detent.

2. In a registering device of the character described, a plurality of registers arranged in a circular series, a master ratchet wheel mounted for rotary movement coaxially with respect to said series, a carriage carried by said wheel, a rocker arm pivoted on said carriage, a springpressed pawl carried by said rocker arm in position to be presented successively to said registers as said wheel turns, means for turning said wheel, spring means for returning said wheel to its starting position, ratchet means for releasably retaining said wheel with said pawl in operative relation to each of said registers, a secondary wheel movable coaxially of said master wheel and having a notch into which the other end of said rocker arm seats, means operabie to release said ratchet means, and means carried by said releasing means and engageable during movement thereof with said secondary wheel to turn said secondary wheel and thereby swing said rocker arm to carry said pawl to clearing position with respect to said registers before said ratchet is released.

3. In a registering device of the character described, a plurality of registers arranged in a circular series, a master ratchet wheel mounted for rotary movement coaxially with respect to said series, a carriage carried by said wheel, a rocker arm pivoted on said carriage, a springpressed pawl carried by said rocker arm in position to be pesented successively to said registers as said wheel turns, means for turning said wheel, spring means for returning said wheel to its starting position, ratchet means for releasably retaining said wheel with said pawl in operative relation to each of said registers, a secondary wheel movable coaxially of said master wheel and having a notch into which the other end of said rocker arm seats, means operable to release said ratchet means, means carried by said releasing means and engageable during movement thereof with said secondary wheel to turn said secondary wheel and thereby swing said rocker arm to carry said pawl to clearing position with respect to said registers before said ratchet is released, and means for withdrawing said secondary wheel engaging means after it has turned said secondary wheel with respect to said master wheel and before said ratchet has been released.

4. In a registering device of the character described, a plurality of registers arranged in a circular series, a master ratchet wheel mounted for rotary movement coaxialiy with respect to said series, a carriage carried by said wheel, a rocker arm pivoted on said carriage, a springpressed pawl carried by said rocker arm in position to be presented successively to said registers as said wheel turns, means for turning said wheel, spring means for returning said wheel to its starting position, ratchet means for releasably retaining said wheel with said pawl in operative relation to each of said registers, a secondary wheel movable coaxially of said master wheel and having a notch into which the other end of said rocker arm seats, a pivotally mounted lever, a cam carried thereby in position to engage and release said ratchet means, and a resilient finger operably connected for movement with said lever and adapted to engage said secondary wheel and turn it with respect to said master wheel and thereby swing said rocker arm to carry said pawl to position wherein it clears said registers before said cam engages said ratchet means.

5. In a registering device of the character described, a plurality of registers arranged in a circular series, a master ratchet wheel mounted for rotary movement coaXia-lly with respect to said series, a carriage carried by said wheel, a rocker arm pivoted on said carriage, a spring-pressed pawl carried by said rocker arm in position to be presented successively to said registers as said wheel turns, means for turning said wheel, spring means for returning said wheel to its starting position, ratchet means for releasably retaining said wheel with said pawl in operative relation to each of said registers, a secondary wheel movable coaxially of said master Wheel and having a notch into which the other end of said rocker arm seats, a pivotally mounted lever, a cam carried thereby in position to engage and release said ratchet means, a resilient finger operably connected to said lever for movement therewith and adapted to engage said secondary wheel and 7 turn it with respect to said master Wheel and thereby swing said rocker arm to carry said pawl to position wherein it clears said registers before said cam engages said ratchet means, and means for Withdrawing said finger from engagement with said secondary Wheel after said pawl has been moved to said clearing position and before said cam engages said ratchet means.

ALFRED L. EACRETT. 

